Bassett's Restaurant

"Cozy place, kind service, it’s good to be back and see Bassets is getting back in the saddle!"

"Waiting. The whole experience was waiting. Waiting to be seated - standing in the foyer wondering if anyone even worked there. Waiting (a long time) to get our orders taken. Waiting for food. We were there at least an hour and a half for a simple lunch which was really not great. The heater in the outside seating area was extremely noisy. Onion rings were greasy. Waiter was friendly and the waiting was likely not his fault. Definitely would not go there again."

"SUMMARY: Delicious homestyle comfort meals in the small town of Poolesville, MD. Go when you’re in the mood to relax and take your time over a meal. Excellent fried chicken, barbecued ribs and desserts. *** Visit Basset’s when you want to take it slow and relax. (Service can be quite leisurely.) This restaurant, located in the small town of Poolesville, MD is a homestyle retreat in the best possible way. We enjoyed the relaxing roofed patio. The interior looks to be a warren of small, cozy rooms. We loved the fried chicken and the half rack of ribs, each served with a choice of sides. The ribs were moist and succulent. If you have a group or a family to feed, the 8 and 12 piece fried chicken dinners (choose all white meat, all dark meat or a mix, order an extra side or two if needed) are delicious and an outstanding value. The chicken is moist and flavorful with a crisp, lightly breaded exterior. Side dishes were substantial and generally excellent. The onion rings and mashed cauliflower were perfect accompaniments to our meal, as were the fluffy biscuits. (A couple of minor areas for improvement: mac and cheese was very good, but a stronger punch of cheese would have been welcome. The iced tea, while refreshing, would also benefit from a more assertive flavor.) Don’t skip dessert, especially any specials on offer. Our special of warm apple pie a la mode was to die for: a glorious apple filling, piled high, studded with raisins and kissed with cinnamon, served on an exceedingly light crust. The exceptional baker is a Poolesville resident and her talent shines. All told, dining at Bassett’s’s feels like a long overdue visit to a family home in the country. Take your time, savor a well-prepared and generous American meal, and save room for a delicious dessert. You’ll be glad that you did."

"A bit of a train wreck experience. I think it must be fair to note that they did appear highly understaffed, but who understaffs for labor day weekend? And if your business is understaffed, then why isn't an owner/manager there to support their staff? Our server was doing his best, but couldn't seem to relax until he was finally given some relief by someone who I am not sure even worked at the restaurant, but was just there. Little to none of our empty plates were bussed off our table until the end of the meal. My drink took so long to get out, it was watered down by the time it reached me. Myself and another person ordered the same cocktail, and both were garnished differently, the modifications to orders were ignored by the kitchen, and the acoustics of the room we were so boomy that the sound was disorienting. The food actually carried a very good taste. No thought is put into any of the plating though. These moderately priced thoughtful dishes are served with the same regard that a neighborhood diner would present their blue plate special. Best dishes: Crab dip (asked for baguette and chips, only got baguette) - Creamy, well seasoned, baguette was toasted and crusty. This was a table favorite Southwest Chicken Wraps - Great flavor that popped. Sauce on the side was a nice compliment to the dish. Fish and Chips - Good batter, crisp, plated with a slight presentation, standard tartar sauce. It was a good showing. Plates that missed the mark: Mozzarella Sticks- You can not use fish fry batter for Mozz sticks... I repeat... You can not use fish fry batter for Mozz sticks. it just didn't work. And they were haphazardly thrown on the plate in the same manner that I would if I were stoned at midnight looking for a snack. Fried Chicken - Asked for dark meat, got a breast. While salted, it needed some spice to wake it up a bit more. The breading was crisp, but contained a little too much baking powder. Mashed potatoes had a nice texture, but weren't seasoned well. I want to like this place. The food is there, but they are missing a few elements that I need when eating at a restaurant in this price point. Maybe I'll give it a try in the future, but I am definitely not dying to come back."

"Great experience!!! Small town homemade food. It was delicious, the crab cakes and crab dip were phenomenal and frankly everything we had was delicious. The staff was attentive and quick. Dont be afraid to try the weekend specials! We had the tenderloin and the panko battered chicken breast. We were very please. Portions were note than generous and prices were very reasonable."